How to build your author platform without Facebook, TikTok or BookstagramI left Twitter in November 2021, and I have never regretted my decision. I mean, it helps that Twitter (or X, I suppose) has since devolved into… whatever is currently going on over there, but even if it were the least toxic, most welcoming site on the internet, I still wouldn’t regret my decision. If you are an author who loves social media, more power to you. There are many, many benefits to having an active online community on the various platforms. This article is not designed to get you to stop doing what you’re doing. This article is for the authors who, like me, have to be dragged kicking and screaming to their socials and who’ve been wondering if it’s possible to be a successful author in this connected era without building a massive following on TikTok. The short answer is yes. For the longer answer… read on.
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How to use dialogue for character development in your novel or short storyCharacters are the heartbeat of any great story. They’re our vehicle into the narrative world, driving the plot, making the story mean something beyond the abstract, guiding us through the emotional landscape, and, if we’re lucky, leaving an impression that lasts long after the final chapter closes. And at the very centre of character development lies the art of dialogue. More than simply an exchange of words, more than communication, dialogue is the engine that lets your characters move the story forward, all while revealing the unique personalities, motivations, and inner workings of your fictional creations. Character and dialogue go hand in hand, and that rule holds true whether or not your character ever utters a word in text. Dialogue, like character, is about voice. Let’s look at how we can use this fundamental principle to breathe life into words.
Everything you need to know about the submissions processThe world of publishing can seem confusing and exclusive to emerging authors. It’s filled with bewildering terminology and an overwhelming set of rules that you’re just expected to know, on pain of instant rejection. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Over the past few months, I’ve been going through some of the key steps involved in navigating the publishing process and discussing tips and know-how to help you give yourself the best chance of success. The whole series is collected and summarised below, if you need a quick reference guide, with links to the full article under each header.
A step-by-step guide to the publication process for first-time authors: part 5The world of publishing can seem confusing and exclusive to emerging authors. It’s filled with bewildering terminology and an overwhelming set of rules that you’re just expected to know, on pain of instant rejection. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this article series, I’m going through some of the key steps involved in navigating the publishing process and discussing tips and know-how to help you give yourself the best chance of success. Over the previous four posts, we’ve looked at polishing your MS, drawing up a list of submission targets, and drafting your cover letter. Now… I’m afraid we can’t put it off any longer. It’s time to write your one-page synopsis.
A step-by-step guide to the publication process for first-time authors: part 4The world of publishing can seem confusing and exclusive to emerging authors. It’s filled with bewildering terminology and an overwhelming set of rules that you’re just expected to know, on pain of instant rejection. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this article series, I’m going through some of the key steps involved in navigating the publishing process and discussing tips and know-how to help you give yourself the best chance of success. In the previous couple of posts, we looked at the pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing, how to make sure your manuscript is looking its very best before sending it out into the world, and how to build a submission list of agents and publishers to send it out to. Now it’s time to start putting that submission together. And the first step is your query letter.
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